Feature flags restaurants using non-plastic packaging across 490 cities, aims to nudge greener delivery choices

Zomato has introduced a ‘Low Plastic Packaging’ filter on its app, allowing users to identify restaurants that use alternatives to plastic for food delivery packaging.

The filter appears under the ‘Trust Markers’ section and highlights restaurants enrolled in Zomato’s Plastic-free Future Programme. These outlets primarily use materials such as paper, bagasse, glass and aluminium for packing their main menu items. A ‘Low plastic packaging’ tag is also displayed on restaurant menu pages and reflected in the order summary at checkout.

Launched in December 2024, the Plastic-free Future Programme has expanded to include about 10,000 restaurants from over 290 brands across more than 490 cities. Zomato said the new filter is intended to improve visibility for participating restaurants and encourage wider adoption of sustainable packaging options among its partners.

Anjalli Ravi Kumar, Chief Sustainability Officer at Zomato, said users increasingly value the ability to make environmentally responsible choices while ordering food online. She added that the filter would make it easier for customers to find restaurants using alternatives to plastic packaging and help drive broader participation in the programme.

According to the company, around 80 million orders have been placed from restaurants under the Plastic-free Future Programme so far.

Separately, Zomato runs a voluntary ‘plastic-neutral’ delivery initiative under which it recycles plastic waste equivalent to the amount used by restaurants for delivery packaging. Since financial year 2023, the company has recycled nearly 45,000 metric tonne of plastic waste.